CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lesley University freshman Samantha Bessey (Algonquin, Ill.) registered two goals to help lead the Lynx to a 5-0 shutout of Mitchell College in New England Collegiate Conference Women's Soccer action tonight at Edward Field.

At halftime of the contest, the Lynx recognized Caroline Stratton who has been an honorary team member since the spring of 2014 through the "Friends of Jaclyn Foundation." 

The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is an organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers and to raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe on the Sidelines and Guardian Angel Programs. For more information and to support the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, please visit their website. 

The Lynx, now winners of eight straight, improve to 11-5 on the season and 6-0 in the NECC while pushing their regular season conference unbeaten streak to 58 matches. With the loss, the Mariners drop to 2-7-3 overall and 1-4-1 in conference play.

Lesley senior Samantha Rapant (Pittsfield, Mass.) opened the scoring for the hosts in the 16^th minute of play when she finished a beautiful cross from freshman Jordan Mitchell (Sachse, Texas). Mitchell dribbled the ball down the right side of the box and sent a ball to the far left post to find a streaking Rapant who one-timed home her second goal of the season.

Mitchell, the reigning NECC and ECAC Division III New England Rookie of the Week, has recorded points in five straight matches.

Bessey followed Rapant's tally with a pair of markers before intermission. The rookie registered her first of the night with a missile inside the far left post in the 26^th minute of play before find the back of the net for the second time just ten minutes later when a lead pass from Julie Essick (Boerne, Texas) fostered a breakaway that Bessey would finish with a shot into the lower left corner to put the hosts up 3-0.

After the break, sophomore Anna Squillante (Sauderstown, N.Y.) scored the first goal of her career on a penalty kick following a Mariner's foul inside the 18-yard box. Classmate Sarah Pochobradsky (Rotterdam, N.Y.) capped Lesley's scoring output in the 67^th minute as she settled a cross from freshman Emma Callender (Philomath, Ore.) and used a right-footed blast into the left corner for her fourth goal of the year.

Mitchell senior Katie McBride (Birmingham, England) was strong in net for the visitors as she made six saves on the night.

The Lynx outshot the Mariners by a 21-1 margin on the evening and held a 6-0 edge in corner kick opportunities.

Lesley will look to make it nine straight victories on Saturday when they take on Newbury College in a conference match at 5:30p at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, Mass. Mitchell will return home to New London, Conn. on Saturday as they will play host to Bay Path College in an NECC matchup at 1:00p.